10 things you never knew about humpback whales

Just as no two zebras have the same stripes or cheetahs have the same spots, humpback whales are completely identifiable by the markings on their tail fluke.

Like fingerprints or tattoos on their tail, scientists, tour operators and Queensland park rangers use these markers to track and research whale patterns along the east coast and tell who’s playing in our waters on the day.

2. They don't have teeth, exactly

Imagine having fringed curtains for teeth? That’s the reality for humpback whales, who fall into the baleen whale category. This means that rather than teeth, they have overlapping plates made of keratin (the same substance as human hair) for filtering their food.

Rather than chew their food, humpbacks swallow it all - water and all - expelling what they won’t digest as they go via their baleen. 

3. Humpback whales sing

It might be music to their ears, but if you’ve ever heard whale song, you’ll know the sound is haunting.

All humpback whales can make social calls from a young age. But interestingly, it’s only male whales that sing, making these marine giants the ultimate boy band of the sea.

Their songs can be heard up to 30km away: good news for anyone on board a tour like Blue Dolphin, which has hydrophone connectivity to hear the whale song from underwater, while you stay dry on deck.

If you happen to take off on a sailing adventure in the Whitsundays during humpback whale season, be sure to request a hull cabin. You won’t be the first person to fall asleep to the sound of whale song through the cabin walls.

4. Whales see everything

Whales are not only alerted to boisterous action, they’re thought to be curiously attracted to it.

If you’re on board one of these whale watching vessels and come across humpbacks, the skipper is likely to ask you to wave. Trust us, it’s not (just) for their entertainment – it’s so the whale is inquisitive enough to come eye-to-eye with the boat.

5. There's a scientific word for that thundering tail slap

One of the most incredible, sensory experiences on a whale watching tour is to witness the humpback whale's forceful tail slap. And it actually has a name of its own: peduncle.

This karate-chopping action of a whale’s tail on water is usually a defensive move. Often a dead giveaway that a female is fending off unwanted male advances. Between mother and calf, scientists suggest this is a humpback whales’ way of sending a little one to the naughty corner.

6. Whales can hold their breath for 40 minutes

If you thought you could hold your breath underwater for a long time, remember it's all relative. Humpback whales have a highly efficient breathing system that allows them to absorb up to 90 percent of the 200 litres of oxygen they inhale, compared to just 15 percent humans do.

For whale watchers, this means if you have a whale sighted in a certain position one moment, it could be MIA by the time your whale-watching vessel motors by.

To counteract this game of cat and mouse, the whale watching operators up and down the coast all talk on walkie talkies – in the spirit of collaboration to ensure you can spot them.

7. Breaching is akin to a humpback body scrub

Scientists have been studying whales breaching for years, and while the jury is hung as to why they do it, everyone is united that it’s an awesome sight.

Some scientists explain breaching as the whales’ means of dislodging barnacles and parasites from their torso, while others suggest it’s just for fun.

If you happen to be on board one of these humpback whale-watching boats in Queensland when one breaches, we can guarantee you’ll be joining in on the whales’ fun.

8. They can swim for a really long time

If their migration pattern didn’t give it away, humpback whales in Queensland have one of the longest migratory journeys of any mammal.

We’re talking 5,000km, over three months each year – most of which is along Australia’s east coast. That's reason enough to book a beach holiday between June and November each year and request an ocean-view room.

9. Newborn humpback whales are enormous 

The average human baby might weigh 3.5kg, but the average humpback whale calf weighs over 900kg. 

Their gestation of over 12 months is well recorded along the Queensland coast, as they migrate north to birth their babies in the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef.

10. A whale watching tour in Queensland is a must-do, but every experience is different

Queensland's humpback whale season might run for four months, but don’t expect the same breach, spy hop and fin slap every day of it.

According to Keith Reid, Captain of Hervey Bay's Freedom III, there are three distinct components to each whale season and your day on the water completely depends on who comes to play.

Visit in June and July to catch the first adult singletons who enter Queensland’s coastline to rest and recreate. If you’re on the coast early in the season, book a trip from the Gold Coast (SeaWorld Cruises or Whales in Paradise), Sunshine Coast (Sunreef Mooloolaba) or Brisbane (Brisbane Whale Watching or Yalingbila) to catch the first pods make their migration.

If you’re looking for Cetacea-creche, pay a visit to Hervey Bay - the world's first designated Whale Heritage Site - from August to September when newborn calves start learning their new tricks. You’ll be spoilt for boat choice – so we’d recommend reading this post first to find the right tour for you, including how to swim with the whales. 

For the best breach action, book a trip with one of these Hervey Bay operators in October as the calves start to master their new moves, with plenty of bubble trails, pectoral slaps, and breaching.

Witnessing the majesty of humpback whales in the wild is an incredible experience, no matter how you do it.